Elevator and conveyer for cylindrical articles



janQlU, 1950 BINGHAM 2,493,942

ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed May 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam, W, 15

D. W. BINGHAM ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER FOR CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1948 Patented Jan. 10, 1950 OFFICE ELEVATOR AND CONVEYER FOR CYLINDBICAL ARTICLES David William Bingham, Brighton, Victoria, I

Australia Application May 15, 1948, Serial No. 27,564

In Australia May 16, 1947 7 Claims.

This invention relates to elevators, conveyors and the like of the type which are adapted to handle food cans and other cylindrical articles. More particularly the invention concerns-such elevators which are adapted to receive cans being fed forward in single file and automatically to separate such cans into a series of laterally spaced files so that they may be delivered into associated apparatus such for example as mechanical cookers, coolers or labelling machines.

Hitherto conveyors or elevators of the kind indicated have not proved to be entirely satisfactory in that the cans, which were handled on their ends, were not under suflicient control to efficiently synchronize their forward movement with the conveyors or the like in the associated cooking or like apparatus. 7

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved elevator or conveyor of the kind indicated in which provision is made for rolling the cans or the like throughout their forward movement, and also whilst they are being separated into the series of laterally spaced files whereby most effective control and timing of the forward movement of the cans is main- "3 tained and it is possible to readily synchronize the delivery of the cans in accordance-with the requirements of the associated cooking or other apparatus.

Various other objects and novel constructional features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description of one practical embodiment.

Referring to the drawings which form part Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line VV of Figure 1. 1.

Figure 6 is a cross section taken on the line VIVI of Figure 1.

Apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a supporting frame 2 which may be of substantially rectangular formation and consist of a plurality of spaced longitudinal and transverse frame members 3 and 4 respectively connected together by welding or in any other suitable manner. l

In some instances the improved elevator or conveyor maybe adapted for mounting in an upstanding or inclined attitude as in Fig. lof the drawings and for this purpose its supporting frame is provided with mounting means which may consist of a plurality of depending legs '6 adapted to be connected to anchoring posts I in a concrete foundation or any other suitable support. The supporting frame may also be provided with a plurality of forwardly extending arms 8 adapted to rest against the frame of an associated machine or other convenient support so that the supporting frame 2 may be operatively positioned in the desired inclined attitude.

qThe supporting frame carries a table or platform 9 having a substantiallyfiat surface which is located adjacent to the front of the frame and extends lengthwise thereof. The width of the table is such as to accommodate all of the several laterally spaced paths traversed by a series'of can holders as hereinabove described.

Located at or adjacent to the opposite ends of the frameare coaligned bearings II for a pair of transverse shafts l2, one at each end of the frame. Each of these shafts is provided near its opposite ends with sprockets I3 fora pair of endless conveyor elements such as chains M which are arranged, one at each side of the supporting frame so as to pass around the aligned sprockets on the shafts.

One of these shafts is adapted to be power driven whilst the other may be relatively movable towards and away from the companion shaft so as to adjust the tension of the chains. Screw and nut tensioning devices IE or any other suitits cross bar.

able means may be provided for efiecting such movement of the adjustable shaft.

The pair of endless conveyor chains are adapted to carry a series of cross members such as bars or the like 17, which are longitudinally spaced in substantially parallel relationship on the chains. Each of these cross bars is fitted with a holder I8 for one of the food cans or other cylindrical articles l9 to be handled.

Each of these holders is preferably mounted on a carriage 2| which is longitudinally slidable on This carriage may consist of a sleeve or any other suitable support 22 which is capable of sliding freely along the associated cross bar.

Each of the can holders may consistof a pair of forwardly projecting arms 23 which are laterally spaced for a predetermined distance and fixed at their inner ends to their carriage. As

lengthwise of their cross bars in a sideward direction as the carriages are moving forward .over the table 9. For this purpose a series ofglatera'lly spaced guideways such as open ended guide chan-' nels 24 may be employed. Asseen in Figs; -1, 4 and are retained in the desired spaced relationship as they are carried around the sprockets at the opposite ends of the apparatus.

Means are also provided for returning the carriages to their original positions as they travel along the back of the supporting frame towards .the-feedingendpf the apparatus. Said return- :ing'mean-smay 'consist' of asecond set of open ended channels 29 mounted on the back of the supporting frame in substantial alignment with -thoseeonithe front of the frame.

In 'use,--the cans of like cylindrical articles [9 are fed in single file to the can holders I8, I Be ;.as they also move forward in single file along the 5 of the drawings, the latter may be of substanc t path t t feeding end of the apparatus.

tially inverted U shape in cross sectionandicarried by some of the supporting frame members irr such a manner that the channels are positioned above both the table 9 and the series of carriages- 2| with the channels extending lengthwise of the supporting frame. 1;: .2 y :1 At the'feeding endofthesupporting framethe Eser'ieszpf channels .24 are arranged in substan- "tially parallel, spaced formation but after; ex- :tending forward forv a suitable distance, the chan- -':nels. diverge towards the opposite sides of-the Z'frame: andi'finally again extend forward in subestantially' parallel spaced-relationship atv or ad- -jacent to the-"discharge'rend of the frame asin Rig-r4; 1' i I I Each of these open ended channels 24 is adapt- ;ed' to.:accommodate: an anti-friction, roller 26; or --anyother suitableprojection-on one of the afore- -said carriages so that asthelatter moves forward with the endless chains its roller passes along the;

"inclined :portion' of its channel and thus auto- :flnaticallyimovesfits carriage sidewardly to a predetermined :position :-,as the carriage approaches ithe discharge end of-the frame..- 1:: a; Means, are-provided for directing the-canrholders.;alongza-;central:pathrat the feeding end of the sapparatus.-rand,also for subsequently varying-their :degree of "lateral movement; as they continue to e OYe forward.- ,;For this -purpose,-the carriages 5,21; mayvary in length: in such a manner'that awhen their rollers aretraversing the :parallel porrtions of the guidewaysrat'the feeding end of the ;apparatus,- each can holder:;l8=follows a path ex- .-tending centrally along the supporting frame, the g arrangement being such-that they can holders follow each other in longitudinally spacedalignment u-ntil theinrollers 12b enter the inclined. portions gob-their -.g uide channels 1 and commence --to move i-theholders automatically toward the-sides; of ---the supporting frame. 1 The carriage 2| :1 on one of the cross bars I1 i-s preferably fixed in position so; that its can holder l8a may continue to move forward along the central path throughoutgthe lengthbf the :machine. This carriage is of course devoid ofananti-friction roller'and associated to if' h p 1' i As the rollers leave;the discharge ends of the esh nn t i e ary to re ain; .thev u 15 E25 Ql QlTs 8- ncihes's si ed era y spaced relationship Hemline-san e ave'hee discha ed -andthe carriages have commenced a. return 'gmoyement along; the back --of the supporting frame.-;For this purpose guide means are providedatopposite ends of the machine and-said guide means may .include a series of discs--21 "arranged in laterally spaced formation on each gof theaforesaid transverse shafts l2 "25 reIati'onshipL During the whole of such movementsthe' positions" of the cans" are effectively controlled and friction 'is reduced to a minimum as the cans c'ontin'ue'to'roll until they are finally discharged from the elevator.

If desired, suitable sized spacing members 3| n'iay be arrangedbehind each of the aforesaid carriages 2lso as to prevent more than one'can entering'the space between adjacent can holders when they are'nioving forward at the feeding end -of'the-machinein single file.

One' or more arcu'ateguide plates 32 which are preferably adjustable an'd/or a chute or the like 'fas m'a be provided at the discharge end of the apparatus'to guide the cans as they pass from the apparatus." r Venous alterations, modifications and/or additio'ns' may-be introduced into-"the foregoing constructiori and arrangement of parts without departing from the ambit of the invention as denneab' the ap ended claims. Having now described my invention, what I eialm asne'w' and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: t 1 'Afi'i'mproved elevator or conveyor of the kind indicated comprising a supporting frame carrying table-having a substantially flat surface extending lengthwiseof the supporting frame and of ""s'ufllcient width to include the several paths of all of the cans or like cylindrical articles being handled, endless 'co nveyor elements located one at each side of said table and carrying a series of longitudinally spaced can holders for rolling said cans'iforwardover the table, mean s for drecting "each said can holder'in succession along a central path at the fee ding end of the apparatus, means "for automatically'moving saidcan holders laterally either in a left or right hand direction and for y ar'yih'g'thedegreeiof lateral movement of adiacent can holders so that adjacent cans finally nove forward along laterally spaced paths which '"are'out of longitudinal alignment for the purpose spe ified... A a 2 Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jmeansj for effecting lateral movement of said can holdersjincludes a plurality of laterally spaced ,guidewaysor channels each of which isadapted be engaged byone of said can holders, said guid'ewa'ys being carried'bg the supporting frame -'elev'ator into the associated cooking or other above and spaced from the flat surface of said table and being arranged in substantially parallel spaced formation at both the feeding and discharge ends of the apparatus with the parallel opposite end portions of said guideways interconnected by intermediate inclined portions which diverge sidewardly from the feeding towards the discharge ends of the apparatus and means for returning said can holders to their original operative positions as they are carried along the back of the apparatus towards the feeding end thereon, said returning means including a second series of open ended guide channels mounted upon the back of said supporting frame and in substantial alignment with the channels on the front of the apparatus for the purpose specified.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for effecting lateral movement of said can holders includes a plurality of laterally spaced guideways or channels each of which is adapted to be engaged by one of said can holders, said guideways being carried by the supporting frame above and spaced from the flat surface of said table and being arranged in substantially parallel spaced formation at both the feeding and discharge ends of the apparatus with the parallel opposite end portions of said guideways interconnected by intermediate inclined portions which diverge sidewardly from the feeding towards the discharge ends of the apparatus and means for returning said can holders to their original operative positions as they are carried along the back of the apparatus towards the feeding end thereon, said returning means including a second series of open ended guide channels mounted upon the back of said supporting frame and in substantial alignment with the channels on the front of the apparatus and guide means for retaining said can holders in the desired laterally spaced relationship whilst they are passing at opposite ends of the apparatus between the open ended channels at the front and rear of said table for the purpose specified.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for effecting lateral movement of said can holders includes a plurality of laterally spaced guideways or channels each of which is adapted to be engaged by one of said can holders, said guideways being carried by the supporting frame above and spaced from the flat surface of said table and being arranged in substantially parallel spaced formation at both the feeding and discharge ends of the apparatus with the parallel opposite end portions of said guideways interconnected by intermediate inclined portions which diverge sidewardly from the feeding towards the discharge ends of the apparatus and means for returning said can holders to their original operative positions as they are carried along the back of the apparatus towards the feeding end thereon, said returning means including a second series of open ended guide channels mounted upon the back of said supporting frame and in substantial alignment with the channels on the front of the apparatus and guide means for retaining said can holders in the desired laterally spaced relationship whilst they are passing at opposite ends of the apparatus between the open ended channels at the front and rear of said table, said guide means at opposite ends of the apparatus including a plurality of rotatable discs arranged in laterally spaced formation on a transverse shaft, each of said discs being adapted to be engaged by a pair of spaced lips on one of said can holders so as to temporarily retain the latter in the desired operative position until it is again engaged by one of said open ended channels on the opposite side of the apparatus for the purpose specified.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supporting frame is of substantially rectangular formation and consists of a plurality of spaced longitudinal and transverse frame members connected together so that the frame may be inclined upwardly and forwardly when in its operative position, the flat surface of said table being positioned adjacent to the front of said frame which is provided adjacent to its opposite ends with bearings for transverse shafts located one at each end of the frame and fitted with co-aligned sprockets adapted to receive a pair of endless conveyor chains located one at each side of said frame and carrying a plurality of longitudinally spaced cross bars on which said can holders are slidably mounted for the purpose specified.

6. An improved elevator or conveyor of the kind indicated comprising a supporting frame carrying a table having a substantially flat surface extending lengthwise of said frame and being of suflicient width to include the paths of all cans or like cylindrical articles being handled, endless conveyor elements located one at each side of said table and carrying a series of longitudinally spaced cross members each of which supports a can holder which is slidable lengthwise on its cross member, means for automatically moving some of said can holders lengthwise on their cross members as the can holders are carried forward over the table, and for varying said lengthwise movement of adjacent can holdersso that they eventually move forward along laterally spaced parallel paths which are out of longitudinal alignment for the purpose specified.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the can holder on one or more of said cross members is fixed in a central position thereon so that it does not move laterally as it is carried forward over said table but continues to follow the central path throughout the length of the apparatus for the purpose specified.

DAVID WILLIAM BINGHAM.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Koch June 24, 1930 Number 

